A JAMIE Cripps goal with barely a minute on the clock has maintained reigning premier West Coast's perfect record at the MCG since the start of last year.

Hawthorn largely dominated the second half of Saturday's wet-weather clash, after trailing by 20 points at half-time, but the Eagles pinched a thrilling 11.11 (77) to 9.17 (71) victory.

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West Coast has now won five consecutive games at the home of Australian football and improves to a 10-4 record this season compared to the Hawks' 5-9.

Just as pleasing for the Eagles was the successful return of star ruckman Nic Naitanui from his second knee reconstruction. He won 41 hit-outs and just six possessions and took no marks in a statistically modest performance, but the sodden conditions were hardly to his advantage.

Nic Naitanui celebrates West Coast's win after the siren. Picture: Dylan Burns, AFL Photos

Hawthorn looked likely to complete its comeback and end a three-match losing streak when Daniel Howe, who quelled Elliot Yeo's influence for much of the day, kicked it eight points clear.

However, Jack Darling and Luke Shuey proved thorns in the brown and gold's side all afternoon and rose to the occasion when it counted.

Darling breathed life into the Eagles' hopes when he marked and slotted his fifth goal – all coming in the first and final terms – while Shuey had 15 disposals and six clearances in the last quarter.

Shuey finished with 39 possessions (20 contested), 11 clearances and nine tackles in a masterful display on the same ground he won the Norm Smith Medal nine months ago.

Repeat stoppages in the Hawks' forward half threatened to halt a late West Coast rally, but Adam Simpson's men finally found a way back into attack.

A skied Brad Sheppard shot tied the scores with 91 seconds to go, before Oscar Allen set up Cripps' match-winner with a deep kick inside 50.

Allen earlier in the fourth quarter claimed a courageous, Nick Riewoldt-like mark running back with the flight of the ball that helped set-up Darling's fourth major.

Darling kicked all of the Eagles' three opening quarter majors – two of them from the goalsquare, the other after a strong contested mark – as they earned a two-point buffer.

Hawk Jaeger O'Meara (37 possessions, 12 clearances, 10 tackles) led all players at that stage with 10 disposals and four clearances, but West Coast had worked its way on top by the first break.

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They dominated territory late in the term and took an unanswered five-goal run into half-time.

The Eagles proved savvier in the soggy conditions, being cleaner at ground level and repeatedly making Hawthorn look silly deep in attack with a more diligent approach to flying for marks.

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They kicked a series of opening-half goals after players remained grounded as their opponents took to the air.

Individually, Darling and Josh Kennedy were able to bring the ball down for the likes of Liam Ryan and Cripps to wreak havoc.

Another small forward, Willie Rioli, had just two disposals to half-time in his return, but performed a key role in one of the game's biggest highlights.

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Rioli scooped up the loose Sherrin and delivered an instant handball as he fell to ground to Ryan, who juggled the ball then snapped a magnificent goal.

On the other hand, Hawthorn went goalless in the second term, although Jon Ceglar should have kicked at least one, if not two, after twice marking well inside 50.

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Those misses left the Hawks 20 points down at half-time when they probably deserved to be a bit closer.

James Worpel finally snapped West Coast's goal streak with an accurate set shot early in the third quarter.

The difference was just six points once a long-ranger from Shaun Burgoyne – which was intended as a pass – beat everyone and went through for a goal.

Hawthorn had an extraordinary 14-1 inside 50s, owing plenty to O'Meara and Worpel's work in the clinches, by the time debutant Ollie Hanrahan pounced close to goal to put his team in front.

Soon after, an Isaac Smith brain fade cost the Hawks a 50m penalty and the lead, but the veteran wingman quickly paid his side back to give it a five-point lead at three-quarter time.

MEDICAL ROOM
Hawthorn: Luke Breust and Conor Nash both ended the game with bandaged heads, but were able to play the match out.

West Coast: Mark Hutchings spent the second half with ice on his left hamstring, robbing the Eagles of much-needed run as the Hawks charged at them.

NEXT UP
The Hawks have lost five of their past six games ahead of a difficult encounter against Collingwood at the MCG on Friday night. West Coast has now banked seven wins from its past eight matches, and will try to assert itself as Western Australia's best team when it takes on Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.

HAWTHORN   3.3       3.6       7.13     9.17 (71)
WEST COAST   3.5       6.8       7.8       11.11 (77)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Breust, Nash, Gunston, Worpel, Burgoyne, Hanrahan, Smith, Henderson, Howe
West Coast: Darling 5, Cripps 3, Ryan 2, Shuey

BEST
Hawthorn: O'Meara, Worpel, Impey, Howe, Shiels, Smith
West Coast: Shuey, Darling, Gaff, Sheppard, Redden, Sheed

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
West Coast: Hutchings (hamstring)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Stephens, Harris, Wallace

Official crowd: 31,895 at the MCG